Post by mistersocks on Feb 23, 2014 21:51:49 GMT
Hi All,
Well I've spent the last few weeks racking your brains in the technical section of this forum, so I figured it was high time to introduce the new car properly.
I spotted it on here, and at the same time on the barn finds facebook page. It was known on here as the Bath crab, as that was where it was in the country. A stupidly low offer on ebay later and it was mine!
I'd originally bought the car to break for spares to enable the completion of my other two crabs, but when it arrived i was pleasantly surprised. It was also a nicer surprise to discover the interior and boot were rammed with loads of spares, many of it NOS!
Anyway, it was a lop-sided non runner with stuck brakes and a stuck clutch, so as it was dumped outside the house work started straight away to keep mrs socks happy!
I've drained the fuel system, rebuilt the carb, gone through the starter circuit and fitted a new battery. I found a new air filter, oil filter, plugs, leads, distributor cap, condensor and rotor arm in the boot, so only needed an in-line fuel filter, engine oil and points to get the engine running. Even though the car has been parked up since 2002, the rear brakes and handbrake were all fine, but I have rebuilt the front calipers with new seals, and new seals in the master cylinder. The clutch took some freeing off, I rebuilt the slave cylinder and fitted a new master cylinder, then tried all the tricks in the book to free the stuck clutch. Eventually driving round the village in 2nd gear accelerating and braking made it let go, and it feels fine.
The biggest job was replacing the front displacer. I was a bit nervous about undertaking this particularly as I've been working outside evenings and weekends in less than favourable conditions. Thanks to everyone here who gave help and advice regarding that, I did feel proud when I pumped up the suspension again and the car stayed level!
All the electrics with the exception of the hazard light switch worked, and a bit of fiddling got that working, then it was off for MOT, which it passed with no advisories on friday. I think that the MOT testers father owning several crabs years ago, and the tester learning to drive in an 1800 probably helped a bit!
Theres lots more to do, mainly cosmetic (polishing, cleaning and detailing the engine bay, making and fitting new carpets) and one bigger job of fitting rear seatbelts. I'm looking forward to putting some miles on the clock, and keeping my fingers crossed that there arent too many teething problems to iron out!
More photo's when the weather is less thretening.
Cheers
Rich
Well I've spent the last few weeks racking your brains in the technical section of this forum, so I figured it was high time to introduce the new car properly.
I spotted it on here, and at the same time on the barn finds facebook page. It was known on here as the Bath crab, as that was where it was in the country. A stupidly low offer on ebay later and it was mine!
I'd originally bought the car to break for spares to enable the completion of my other two crabs, but when it arrived i was pleasantly surprised. It was also a nicer surprise to discover the interior and boot were rammed with loads of spares, many of it NOS!
Anyway, it was a lop-sided non runner with stuck brakes and a stuck clutch, so as it was dumped outside the house work started straight away to keep mrs socks happy!
I've drained the fuel system, rebuilt the carb, gone through the starter circuit and fitted a new battery. I found a new air filter, oil filter, plugs, leads, distributor cap, condensor and rotor arm in the boot, so only needed an in-line fuel filter, engine oil and points to get the engine running. Even though the car has been parked up since 2002, the rear brakes and handbrake were all fine, but I have rebuilt the front calipers with new seals, and new seals in the master cylinder. The clutch took some freeing off, I rebuilt the slave cylinder and fitted a new master cylinder, then tried all the tricks in the book to free the stuck clutch. Eventually driving round the village in 2nd gear accelerating and braking made it let go, and it feels fine.
The biggest job was replacing the front displacer. I was a bit nervous about undertaking this particularly as I've been working outside evenings and weekends in less than favourable conditions. Thanks to everyone here who gave help and advice regarding that, I did feel proud when I pumped up the suspension again and the car stayed level!
All the electrics with the exception of the hazard light switch worked, and a bit of fiddling got that working, then it was off for MOT, which it passed with no advisories on friday. I think that the MOT testers father owning several crabs years ago, and the tester learning to drive in an 1800 probably helped a bit!
Theres lots more to do, mainly cosmetic (polishing, cleaning and detailing the engine bay, making and fitting new carpets) and one bigger job of fitting rear seatbelts. I'm looking forward to putting some miles on the clock, and keeping my fingers crossed that there arent too many teething problems to iron out!
More photo's when the weather is less thretening.
Cheers
Rich
